URGENT HELP PLEASE!!!! Solicitors query - Can I get out of this?

[punkypossum]

WAH!!!! It appears that it is all doom and gloom - has anybody got any messages of hope at all?

As for relationship with the vendor, this is how I got my offer accepted in the first place. I had gone for a second viewing, really liked it, and after discussion with friend, knocked on the vendors door an hour later to see if she would be prepared to take the property off the market if I made an offer for the full asking price first thing in the morning (at this point I knew there had been a lot of interest and several more second viewings were lined up). We shook on it, and I spoke to the estate agents first thing in the morning, so did she, and the house got taken off the market and all further viewings cancelled. As it transpired, several more people tried to get an offer in the same day, so this turned out to be an excellent move, although possibly slightly unorthodox. Fortunately the house is now showing as sold STC both on the board and at the estate agent which should hopefully reduce the chances of anybody else getting in there!

However, I can see why it might be a good idea to stay in touch with her, as the estate agents appear to be dragging their feet as well. When I had the phonecall from them last Wednesday to say the offer was accepted, I was promised that a letter confirming this would be sent out the same day. Allowing for second class post, etc, I chased this on Monday to be told it would be sent the same afternoon. Chasing it again today, I was told it had been sent but might have been delayed, so they would email me a copy. They duly did, but funnily enough it has today's date on it, which suggests it wasn't sent in the first place. I also advised them that the solicitor advised me today that they needed the letter with the vendors details asap, so they could start work. Again, I was promised that it would be sent out this afternoon, but I have a feeling I might be chasing that again... I can't quite see why they are so slow, surely they want the whole sale done and dusted?

I'm going to try to get some direct contact details for the vendor, so we can at least keep each other informed of what's going on - otherwise she will probably think I'm just not bothering, and if countrywide lie to her and say my solicitors are at fault, then at least I'll be able to confirm what's going on!!!

This is all a rather huge minefield, all I seem to be doing is filling in forms, chasing things and running around in headless chicken mode at the moment and this is only the beginning! I suspect my life will be taken over for the next few months and that's for what should be a relatively straight forward sale, i.e. no chain on either side - dread to think what happens to people where it's more complicated!!!!!

 

[dellzeqq]

Well I do think you should hop round there asap and take a friend for company. This has two purposes

- your friend can comment on your enthusiasm to the vendor
- your friend can cast a fresh eye on the place

and tell the vendor what's going on. Dish the dirt on the lying agent - it might be that the vendor has caused the delay themselves, but you don't have to go in to that - just say that you want to proceed, and the 'professionals' are holding you up. The vendor is then better informed, and better able to chase from his or her end.

And, yes, your life will be taken over for the next few months.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

This is sound advice - when we sold our last house the buyers wanted to meet us, seemed spooky to me at the time but I was told that's the way it happens a lot of the time now. All worked out well made for a much smoother and trandsparent transaction, kept the agents at bay, etc. etc.

Four years on and we're still friends with them - they are even God-parents to our youngest lad!!!

Well I do think you should hop round there asap and take a friend for company. This has two purposes

- your friend can comment on your enthusiasm to the vendor
- your friend can cast a fresh eye on the place

and tell the vendor what's going on. Dish the dirt on the lying agent - it might be that the vendor has caused the delay themselves, but you don't have to go in to that - just say that you want to proceed, and the 'professionals' are holding you up. The vendor is then better informed, and better able to chase from his or her end.

And, yes, your life will be taken over for the next few months.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Paid for a new roof on the Lodge House and well as for some of the staff for the first year for us

show off!

 

[Crankarm]

If Cuntrywide are acting for the vendor there might have been a slight conflict of interest had you continued to allow them to act for you. Nice of them to advise you that in view of acting for the vendor they would be unable to act for you. They sound like total sheisters. In fact you could use this to demand your £50 back they have charged you for exiting your contract with them or you will report them to the Law Society or SRA and right a letter to the ToryGraph or Times.

But bear in mind things can go tits up dealing direct with sellers and buyers as well. Keep things cordial but don't get too friendly IMHO. Familiarity breeds contempt as they say.

 

[punkypossum]

It does say in the small print that they might outsource it in case of a conflict of interest, so they have covered themselves on that one.

Just had a pile of documents from them, rang them up to find out what happened to my cancellation, surprise, surprise, it does not appear to be showing on my file and no refund has been arranged as yet.

Have now emailed this through again (this time it does give a specific email address which to use for cancellations) and will also send off the cancellation form included in the file, just to be on the safe side... Think registered mail might be the way forward!!!! Also, it appears I was misadvised. The small print states that for cancellations within 7 days the whole amount is refunded, later ones include a £50 charge!

 

[pinkkaz]

Hi punkypossum, not sure if you're at the instructing new solicitors stage but I can recommend this website: http://www.conveyancing-cms.co.uk/ They give you 3 quotes and you can choose the cheapest one or a local one. I used them 2 years ago (with the market at its peak ), used a solicitor in Newcastle, did everything by post/email and only cost me £350. Bargain.

 

[Over The Hill]

The lawyer and the estate agent are the same firm. Just go into the agents, say you will use a different solicitor and want your £200 back. if they say no- withdraw the offer. They will soon change their mind.

btw- the stamp duty form still needs to be filled in even if £0 due. So they will charge you for it too.

 

[punkypossum]

As for the stamp duty form, yes, I found that out yesterday as well (that would have been another £97.75)! The cancellation in writing has now gone in in triplicate, so hopefully should not take too long. I also managed to speak to the vendor, who had been talked into using Countrywide, because I was using them and it would make it easier, but wasn't very happy due to the cost - which was far worse for her. Told her the whole story, she rang to cancel them, but it turned out that hers had never been set up due to some admin error, and the money never taken out of her bank, so she now has a new solicitor and we are both sorted (or will be once I get my money back). It was really good talking to her - she had started to wonder as well what was happening, as since the offer was accepted she had had absolutely nothing in writing and loads of conflicting information.